Analytics, EU – Baltic States, Export

The highest export increase among the EU countries this year has been in Lithuania – by 34% to EUR 12.5 billion (LVL 8.8 billion), Bulgaria – by 22%, Romania – by 20%, Slovakia – by 20%, and the Czech Republic – by 19%. Poland's export growth rate was the same as Latvia's in the first nine months of the year.

Estonia's exports in January-September increased by 7% to EUR 6.4 billion (LVL 4.5 billion), which was the 13th fastest increase in the EU.

The biggest export fall was registered in Malta and Ireland by 13% to EUR 1.4 billion (LVL 1 billion) and by 5% to EUR 63.2 billion (LVL 44.4 billion) respectively. Great Britain's exports in the first nine months of the year remained at the same level as last year and was EUR 238.5 billion (LVL 167.6 billion).

Major exporters among EU countries in the first nine months of 2008, were Germany, the Netherlands and France, where the value of exports reached EUR 760.4 billion (LVL 534.4 billion), EUR 327.9 billion (LVL 230.5 billion) and EUR 314.8 billion (LVL 221.2 billion), respectively.

Latvia's imports in January-September stayed about the same as last year and was EUR 8.3 billion (LVL 5.8 billion). Latvia's external trade deficit thus decreased to EUR 3.1 billion (LVL 2.2 billion), compared to EUR 3.9 billion (LVL 2.7 billion) in the same period last year.

The highest import growth rate in the first nine months this year was registered in Bulgaria – by 24%, and Lithuania – by 24%. In Great Britain, imports decreased by 3%, and in Greece – by 3%.

Among all EU members, the largest external trade surplus for the first nine months of the year was recorded in Germany – EUR 142.3 billion (LVL 100 billion), the Netherlands – EUR 31.9 billion (LVL 22.4 billion), and Ireland – EUR 20.2 billion (LVL 14.2 billion).

The largest external trade deficits were noted in Great Britain – EUR 91.7 billion (LVL 64.4 billion), Spain – EUR 72.2 billion (LVL 50.7 billion), and France- EUR 50.2 billion (LVL 35.3 billion).